Temple coach defends decision

After all, the game was tied 6-6 and there was just over four minutes left on the clock.

The obvious play appeared to be a punt. Instead, Golden opted for a running play and UConn linebacker Greg Lloyd stopped fullback Lamar McPherson some five inches short of a first down.

"It speaks to everything we are trying to do here," Golden said after the game. "What I mean by that is, it's easy to punt. Anybody can punt the ball. It's conven-tional wisdom. But you know what? We are trying to change 30 years of this crap and I want to show them that we are going to go for it and make it right here.

"There is going to be a day -- I pray it's sooner rather than later -- that we are going to make that yard."

Instead of Temple making it, UConn took over at its own 34 with a chance to win the game. Of course, UConn didn't do much with its op-portunity, either, advancing the ball just four years before missing a long field goal.

BAD CALL II?: Temple's marketing department billed Saturday's game as a search for "Justice," referring to the apparent bad call at the end of UConn's win over Temple last year.

The officials, or the men operating the chains more specifically, made a small error again that hurt the Owls Saturday, though it probably didn't impact the final out-come as the 2007 call did.

A pass to Temple's Travis Shelton on the first play of overtime was aided by a holding penalty after Shelton had gained a first down. It should have been first down and 4 for the Owls at the 19-yard line.

Instead, it was first-and-10 from the 19.

Now, Temple made an-other first down after that point anyway, but Golden felt the incorrect down and dis-tance affected which plays his team called.

"Should have been first-and-4 and it was first-and-10," Golden said.

"When you're first-and-4, you guys that go to AC (Atlantic City) know you're playing with house money. They said it wrong. They ruled it wrong on the field and they apolo-gized after the game. First-and-4, you are taking shots at the end zone. First-and-4 is a lot different."

NIXON MAKES A SPLASH: New Haven na-tive and one-time UConn signee James Nixon made the first big play of the game, getting behind the Husky defense to haul in a 46-yard pass on the Owls' third play from scrimmage.

Temple settled for a short Jake Brownell field goal on the drive and an early 3-0 lead.

A product of Hyde, Nixon is a freshman with the Owls who is transitioning to wide receiver. He was a running back, defensive back and kick returner in high school.

EXTRA POINTS: Linebacker Scott Lutrus made a team-high 12 tackles. ... UConn's last loss to a Mid-American team was a 24-21 overtime setback to Ball State on Sept. 28, 2002. ... Defensive end Lindsey Wit-ten (knee) did not make the trip to Philadelphia for the game.

... Wide receiver Brad Kanuch saw his first action of the season, returning from a hamstring injury. He did not catch a pass. ... Running back Andre Dixon appeared on only a handful of plays and had one carry for 4 yards. ... UConn's D.J. Her-nandez laid a big hit on Temple's Morris Blueford with a block on a second-quarter punt return. Blueford was knocked off his feet.